Method and apparatus for removing curing bags from tires



Feb. 16, 1954 w, J RO ETAL 2,668,983

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CURING BAGS FROM TIRES Filed April 2, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l 9 l-Ea JUL/527055 Melisa J'EZE'UQQ Feb. 16, 1954 w, STRQNG ETAL 2,668,983

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CURING BAGS FROM TIRES Filed April 2, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5'5 JET/53121055 J M52295 'J-EZEDE 6, 1954 w. J. STRONG ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CURING BAGS FROM TIRES Filed April 2, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 n n E SEE M f E 4 k g u x wmmw H I x fiJ J a 5 44 5% C Ma $6.0, E2. 7 I 6 w m w 6 w 8 Patented Feb. 16, 1954 METHOD AND APPABATUSFOR REMOVING CURING BAGS FROM TIRES Walter J Strong, Cuyahoga Falls, and Robert-E. Lindemann, Leroy, Ohio, assignors to The B. F; Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corpoation of New York Application April 2,1951, Serial No. 318,874 12 Claims. (01. 18.92)

invention relates tothe method of and apparatus for removingcuring bags from-tire casings.

In the manufacture of open-bellied tire casings it has been the usual-practice to cure or vulcanize the casing while itis supported from within byanv inflatable rubber'bag filled with air steam, hot water or other fluid under pressure. After vulcanization of the casing the bag must-be removed from it without damage to the bag or the tire-casing.

order to provide a relatively stiff molding surface presented against the inner surface of the tire-casing so as to smooth the inner surface, the curingbags are of relatively thickwalled construction. Generally the thicker and stiffer the bag, the more diflicult it is to remove it from the tire casing. Tire manufacturers haveof late years produced larger and larger tires for special uses such as on road-building machinery, airs planes, trucks and busses, and as such tires have increased in size, the size of the curing bags has been increased proportionately and the problems of'providing for removal of the curing bags has become more difficult. As boththe tire casings and the curing bags have become larger they have become stiffer and heavier requiring a greater amount of power to handle them. It has therefore become desirable to provide for handling the heavy tire casings by power-operated mechanism and to so simplify the movements of the bag puller as more effectively to'accomplish the bagpulling operation with a minimum useof power.

The present invention has for an object the re.- moval of curing bags from the larger sizes of tire casings without objectionable damageto the case ing.

Gther objects are to provide for quick adfiust--- mentofthe apparatus both during removalof the curing-bag and in placement of the casing inbagpulling position, to reduce manual effort-in handllng of thel'arge casings, and to simplify move.- mentand constructionofthe pulling mechanism.

These and other objects will appear from the following description and the accompanying. drawings;

Ofthe'drawings,

Fig. i a front elevation of apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, parts being broken away. v

Fig. "2'1isa sectional view thereof, taken on line 2- 2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailview of the holddownmechanism;

Fla-4 is-a sectional view similar te ms. ash'owing the bag as partiall removed from the casing.

5 is a similar "view showing a, more advanced stageofthe removal of the bag.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals I0, I I designate a pair of vertical columns of channel cross-section arranged in parallel spaced-apart relation and secured at their lower ends to a floor H. A pair of horizontal frame-members of channel cross-section l3, M are secured at one end to columns 10; II respectively and at their other ends are supported by vertical frame members l5, l6. Other horizontal frame members l1, 18 parallel thereto also connect columns H], H to'framemembers l5, It.

An elevator cage -28 is mounted at the opposite side of columns Ill, H and is guided vertically thereby, there being guide rollers 2|, 22, 23, 24 on the cage for rolling movement along the channel columns. The cage hasa platform 25 for supporting a tire casing 26. A ram 2'! supports the cage zllfrom a vertical ram cylinder 28 secured below the floor'l2 and connected to a supply of fluid under pressure (not shown) by a pipe 30 controlled by a three way valve (not shown) The arrangement is suchthat the tire casing 26 may be raised and lowered by the elevator with respect to the bag-puller.

For supporting the bag-puller for movement along a straight path, a carriage 35 has wheels 36 for engaging the frame members l3, [4 for horizontal movement therealong toward and from the tire casing in aldirection axial thereof. For moving the carriage, a pressure fluid operated cylinder 3! is fixed to cross frame member 33, 39 which are in turn secured to frame members ll, l8.

The cylinder -3lhas a piston it and piston rod 4| to which a gear 4-2 is'secured by a fork 43 and a pin 44 for free rotation. A rack 15 is fixed to frame members -l -'l-, 18, by cross members and a similar rack 46 is fixed to carriage '35. The arrangementis such that movement of piston 46 to the right as seen in Fig. 2 rolls gear 42 alongand in mesh with rack 45 causing the rack 46 also meshed with the gear to move to the right along a straight path and with it the carriage 35, the movement of the carriage being twice th movement of the piston distance.

Mounted on the carriage 35 for independent sliding movement relative thereto in the direction of movement of the carriage are a pair of bars 50, 51'. These-have rack teeth thereon for engaging 'a pair of pinions 52, 53 of equal size-rotatably mountedon stub shafts secured to carriage 35. A third pinion54 similarly mounted on the carriage between pinions 52, 53 meshes therewith. For rotating the pinions, a pressure fluid operated cylinder 55 is fixed to carriage 35 and its piston rod 55 is secured to a rack '1 guided by rollers 58. Rack 51 meshes with pinion 53.

Bars 55, 5| are formed at one end thereof with gripper fingers 60, 6| respectively. The arrangement is such that movement of piston rod 55 moves the gripper fingers 60, 6| toward and from each other independent of the position of carriage 35. In pulling a bag 62 from a tire casing 26 the fingers 65, 6| may grip a portion of the ba and draw the bag through the wheel-engaging opening of the tire to one side of the tire.

For supporting the side of the tire, bracing means such as a plate 65 having vertical sliding movement along columns l0, H is provided. It has a central aperture 66 through which the bag-gripping fingers extend. The bracing means may be raised and lowered to accommodate and align its aperture with tire casing of difierent sizes and for this purpose is fixed to the piston rod 61 of a vertical pressure fluid operated cylinder 58 mounted on the elevator platform 25. The arrangement is such that the plate 65 may rise and fall with the elevator or may be adjusted in relation thereto.

For holding down the top of the casing 26 a sliding carriage 10, see Fig. 3, is mounted on the elevator cage 20 for vertical movement. A holddown arm H is pivotally mounted thereon as by a cross pin 12. Arm H has a short arm 13 secured thereto which is pivotally connected by a pair of links l4, 14 to a cross-head 15. The crosshead is secured to the piston rod 16 of a fluid pressure operated cylinder 11 secured to the elevator frame. A rack 18 is also secured to the elevator cage and is engaged by a pawl 80 pivotally mounted at ill on arm H. A coil spring 82 normally holds a shoulder 83 of pawl 80 against rotation about its pivot in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 3 by contact with arm H but permits rotation in the opposite direction by tensioning the spring. In the absence of a tire, arm H may drop a limited distance by rotation about its pivot releasing pawl 80 from rack 18 and permitting carriage to drop. Such rotation and downward movement of carriage I0 is limited by cross-head 15 so that arm H does not drop enough to incline it greatly from a generally horizontal position. Lowering of rod 16 and cross-head 15 will then lower arm ll until it rests upon a tire 26. Whereupon, the arm II will be rotated sufficiently by resistance of the tire to movement to engage pawl 80 in rack 18 and lock the arm against upward movement. Cross-head 15 and with it carriage I0 and arm H may be raised by rod 15 as pawl 80 may give way by counterclockwise movement, tensioning spring 82.

To facilitate rotative adjustment of the tire casing on the elevator platform 25, the platform is provided with a pair of free-running rollers 85, 86.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: A tire casing 26 is rolled onto the elevator platform 25 where it is centered over the rollers 85, 86. The hold-down arm II is then lowered until it rests upon the top of the tire casing. The plate 65 is then raised or lowered to center its opening 66 with the tire casing. The elevator is then raised until the opening 66 is in position to clear the gripper fingers. Carriage 35 is then advanced to the left in Fig. 2 along a straight path to the position there shown with its gripper fingers over the curing bag. The elevator is then raised slightly to move the casing diametrically and to depress the bag and the fingers then to spread the bead portions of the casing and to permit that portion of the curing bag to enter the space between the fingers. The fingers are then closed to grip the bag. Now the elevator is lowered to expose the gripped portion within the central opening of the casing, as shown in Fig. 4 and the gripper is withdrawn through opening 66 drawing the lower portion of the bag through the opening as seen in Fig. 4. Then the elevator is again raised as the grippers are further withdrawn thereby drawing the bag from the upper portion of the tire. After the bag is withdrawn, the gripper fingers are separated to release it, the elevator is lowered to its original position, the hold-down arm H is raised and the tire casing is rolled from the elevator.

- The apparatus is especially useful in handling tire casings of large size as the casing may be manipulated to move it diametrically of the casing during the pulling operation as desired 'without great physical exertion on the part of the operator, it being possible to move the casing diametrically in opposite directions alternately.

At the same time the bag gripping fingers being mounted for movement along a straight path axially of the casing may be of relatively simple construction and require a minimum of power for moving them. This also greatly strengthens the bag-pulling mechanism and provides for independent manipulation thereof relative to movement of the casing.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. The method of removing a curing bag from an annular tire casing which comprises supporting a side face of the casing entirely about its central wheel-engaging opening, gripping a portion of the bag exposed at said opening, withdrawing the gripped portion by movement along a straight line in a direction axially of the casing toward its supported, side face, and moving the casing in a direction diametrical of the casing while continuing to grip said portion toremove the remainder of the bag from the casing.

2. The method of removing a curing bag from an annular tire casing which comprises supporting a side face of the casing continuously about its central wheel-engaging opening, gripping aportion of the bag exposed at said opening, moving the casing in a direction diametrical of the casing while gripping said portion of the bag to I expose said portion within the central opening of the casing, withdrawing said portion beyond the casing at the supported side face thereof by movement of said gripped portion along a straight line, and moving the casing in the opposite diametrical direction while holding the gripped portion beyond said side face to withfrom the casing through the aperture of the plate.

4. Apparatus for removing a curing bag from auge-es an annular tire" casing; said apparatus ebihpfls: mg a biac ng structure including an apertured plate for supporting a side face of the casing entirely about its central wheel-engaging "open ing, clamping means its gripping a portion of the bag exposed at said opening; "said clamping means beingmounted for a bodily movement along a straight been in a direction axial of the casing, means for withdrawing the clamping means with the gripped portion of the curing bag i a directilifl toward the supportedside faceof the casing and through the apertii in Sammie,

.l e i in a dif, diametri I said per on is so, gr pp d to remove the remainder or the bag from the casing.

5. Apparatus ror'rem'oviri eating bag an annular tire casing, said apparatus comprising an apertured plate for supporting a side face of the casing entirely about its central wheelengaging opening, clamping means for gripping a portion of the bag exposed at said opening, said clamping means being mounted for bodily movement along a straight path in a direction axial of said casing through said opening, means for moving the casing in a direction diametrical of the casing to expose the gripped portion of the bag within the central opening of the casing, means for moving the clamping means with the gripped portion of the bag along said path beyond the supported side face of the casing, and means for moving said apertured plate and said casing in the opposite direction diametrical of the tire casing while holding the gripped portion of the bag beyond said plate to withdraw the remainder of the bag from the casing.

6. Apparatus for removing a curing bag from a tire casing, said apparatus comprising a support for engaging a, tread portion of the casing, holddown means on said support for engaging a diametrically opposite tread portion of the casing, a bag-puller comprising fingers movable toward and from each other for gripping a portion of the curing bag, means for moving said fingers as a group axially of the tire casing along a straight path into and out of the space within the bead portion of the casing, an apertured plate for supporting the side of the casing from which the bag is to be withdrawn, means for adjusting said plate relative to said support independent of the position of said support, and means for moving said support in a direction diametrical of said tire to permit withdrawal of a bag along said path from said casing while said bag is being held through an aperture of said plate by said fingers.

'7. Apparatus for removing a curing bag from a tire casing, said apparatus comprising an elevator for supporting a tire casing from a tread portion thereof with the axis of rotation of the tire horizontal, holddown means on said elevator for engaging a diametrically opposite tread portion of the casing, a bag-puller comprising fingers movable toward and from each other for gripping a portion of the curing bag, means for moving said fingers as a group axially of the tire casing along a straight path into and out of the space within the bead portions of the casing, an apertured plate for supporting the side of the casing from which the bag is to be withdrawn continuously about a sidewall of the casing, means for vertically adjusting said plate relative to said support independent of the position of said support, and means for moving said support in a direction di- 6 held thieiign t n-aperture or said plate by said anp rates" for removing a caring bag from a tire cas1ng,-- said apparatus comprising a plate for supporting a side face or the casing entirely above its central wh'ehngagihg opening, said late having an aperture therethrcugh, means fer holding said casing with its central opening alig ed with the aperture of said plate, a off gripping fingers movable o'ne toward another to grip a portion of the curing bag exposed at the central opening of the casing, means for with drawing'said gripping ringers by rectilinear iiidv'e ment aionga straight path with the gripped p'o tion of the bag thrcugh'th'e aperture of said plate,- and forsievin said plate the easing laterally of the path of withdrawal of said gripping fingers to draw the curing bag from the casing through the aperture of said plate.

9. The method of removing a curing bag from an annular tire casing, which method comprises supporting the tire casing against axial displacement with the central wheel-engaging opening of the tire exposed, gripping a portion of the bag inside the tire through said wheel-engaging opening, then holding said gripped portion in a fixed position and moving the tire casing diametrically away from said gripped portion until the gripped portion of the bag is exposed in said central opening,and then guiding the gripped portion laterally of the tire and moving the tire diametrically in the opposite direction to withdraw the remaining portions of the bag from inside the tire casing.

10. The method of removing a curving bag from an annular tire casing, which method comprises supporting the tire casing against axial displacement with the central wheel-engaging opening of the tire exposed, positioning a pair of opposed bag-gripping members in said opening adjacent the inside surfaces of the beads of the tire, moving the casing diametrically in one direction to urge a portion of the bag between said opposed gripping members, gripping the bag between said opposed members, holding said gripped portion in a fixed position, then moving the casing diametrically in the opposite direction while continuing to grip the bag to displace the gripped portion of the bag into said central wheel-engaging opening, and then guiding the gripped portion laterally of the tire and simultaneously moving the tire diametrically in the firstsaid direction to withdraw the remaining portions of the bag from inside the tire casing.

11. The method of removing a curing bag from an annular tire casing, which method comprises supporting the tire casing against axial displacement with the central wheel-engaging opening of the tire exposed, positioning a pair of closelyspaced, opposed bag-gripping members in said opening, moving the tire casing diametrically to deflect a portion of the bag against said gripping members, separating said gripping members to relieve the distortion in said deflected portion whereby the deflected portion is received between said gripping members, gripping said portion of the bag with the gripping members, holding said gripped portion in a fixed position and simultaneously moving the tire casing diametrically in one direction to displace the gripped portion into said central wheel-engaging opening, and then guiding the gripped portion axially of the tire and simultaneously moving the tire diametrically in the opposite direction to writhdraw the remaining portions of the bag from inside the tire casametrical of said casing while said bag is being 7 ing.

12. Ap aratus for removing acuring bag'from an annular tire casing, the apparatus comprising a. stationary frame structure; tire-holding means slidably supported on the frame and including elements engageable with the tread portions of the tire to hold the tire diametrically aligned with the direction in which the tire-holdin means is slidable, and means engageable with the sidewall of the tire to resist axial displacement of the tire from the tread-engaging elements; means for moving the tire-holding means reciprocatingly on the frame to shift the tire diametrically; and bag-gripping members supported in the frame structure and movable reciprocatingly into and out of the central wheel-engaging opening of a tire in said. tire-holding means in a 8 straight-line motion perpendicular to the direc tion of said slidable movement of the tire-holding means during said slidable movement of the tireholding means.

WALTER J. STRONG. ROBERT E. LINDEMANN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,563,513 McNeill Dec. 1, 1925 1,631,281 Moore June '7, 1927 2,244,162 Leguillon June 3, 1941 2,309,590 Honderich Jan. 26, 1943 2,477,301 Kastner July 26, 1949 2,556,593 McDonald June 12, 1951 

